Disclaimer: See Prologue!
A/N: Ah! Chapter 3! The True Beginning of this story! Sorry for the wait guys! Life and School has hindered my typing. But fear not! I'm not dropping my writing, no way! Well, let me not delay my readers. Read to your heart's content!
Without further ado, here's Chapter 3! On with the story!
Chapter 3: A Monkey Chase, and a Usurped Throne
Bold=Shouting
Italics=Thoughts
(Link's POV)
"LINK! WAKE UP! WAKE UP! IT'S MORNING!" I heard faintly.
Mmgh.. day.. off… sleep…
"LINK, COME ON! WAKEY WAKEY!" Another yell from Talo.
Dammit, Talo… Can't a guy get some sleep on his day off?!
"LINK!" Grrr…
"I'M UP ALREADY!" I yelled. Not another yell came out from that boy's mouth. Dammit, why can't I ever sleep in anymore?
"Goddesses, why?" I groaned as I got ready for my "Day Off" schedule. I walked outside and jumped down to ground level. The kids were all hyped up, as usual.
Yeah, cause they got their batteries recharged. I didn't.
I overheard the boys, Talo and Malo groaning about something from Beth's Parents' shop. I still couldn't get over Malo's wide vocabulary. For being a four year old, he knows A LOT. And Talo, well, he's normal for his age, mischievous and such. Beth, for being an only child, wasn't very spoiled. Has a sense of responsibility. So when I stepped up to see what was going on, I wasn't surprised.
"Aww c'mon, Beth! We just wanna look at it!" said Talo.
"Yeah! Just for a while, please?" added Malo. I chuckled.
Beth shook her head. " If you want it so badly, why don't you just buy it from the shop?" She asked, somewhat annoyed.
"Do we look like we got that kind of money?" Talo argued.
"Then save up your allowances!" she shot back. The boys grumbled and looked to the ground. I mentally sighed.
Well, there goes my first "odd job".
I turned and walked towards Epona and Colin. He smiled at me and gasped.
"Hi Link!"
"What's up, Colin?"
"I just remembered! I made a Fishing Rod for you! I just finished it yesterday. But dad said I couldn't bring it with me…" he said, looking down. I smiled.
"It's okay Colin! Who has the Rod?" I asked. He looked up and beamed.
"My mom has it. She said she would give it to you when you enter town." He said. I patted him on the head.
"Okay then. I'll go into town and do a few things. Watch Epona for me, okay?" I asked. Colin nodded and I headed into town.
-Ordon Village-
After investigating into all the "troubles" of the villagers, I made my way to the roof of Sera's shop and surveyed the area. I quickly located a monkey jumping atop a boulder in the distance, holding the cradle that Uli, Colin's mom had lost. After summoning a Hawk, I pointed to the cradle and the hawk flew in that direction, grabbed the cradle with it's talons and returned; dropping the cradle into my arms. I made my way back to Uli, and gave her the cradle.
"Thank you so much, Link. I've always treasured this cradle. Oh! I was supposed to give you this." She said, reaching for a parcel next to her and giving it to me. It was a fishing rod!
This must be the fishing rod Colin was talking about, I thought to myself. It wasn't perfect but I could tell he had put his full effort into it. I gave Uli my thanks and headed off to the area behind Jaggle's house and found Sera's cat Zander staring at the water, as usual, as if he could just catch a fish by looking at it. I snorted.
Yeah, and Boklobins can fly.
I sat next to the cat and within 15 minutes a fish bit the hook. I reeled it in and before I could examine it, Zander pounced it and took off with the fish in his mouth. I shook my head as I watched him race all the way back to Sera's shop. I went in after him and bought the slingshot, promising to let the kids play with it.
As I approached my home front, I was approached by Rusl.
"Good Afternoon, Rusl." He nodded.
" I dropped something off at your house. Did you get the fishing rod from Uli?" he asked.
"Yeah. It works pretty good too." I replied. Rusl nodded.
"Well, have a good one." He said. I nodded and he walked towards town, leaving me to deal with the kids. I walked up to where Talo, Malo and Beth were still standing and arguing. I took out the slingshot and they immediately looked at me and gasped.
"Look! Link's got the slingshot!" shouted Talo. Leave it to Talo to point out the obvious.
"Ooh! You had enough money to buy it Link?" said Beth in that flirty tone of hers. Fangirl number two. Why do I have to be so popular around here?
"Obviously he did if he has the slingshot." Malo retorted smugly. I chuckled. And of course we have Malo, the smart, sarcastic four year old. After setting up a "test course" for the slingshot, I showed them my aiming skills. In less than five minutes, all the targets (including the two pumpkin heads on my sword practice dummies) were destroyed.
"Wow, Link! That was awesome!" said Talo. The others chimed in their approvals.
"Oh yeah! Were you expecting Colin's dad to bring you something today? 'Cause he did." said Beth.
"Ooh! I wanna see! I wanna see!"Talo shouted. I internally rolled my eyes. Typical impatient kid, I thought to myself.
"I command you to show us." Malo said, in a mock royal manner. So bossy…
I turned and scaled the ladder and entered my house to find a chest straight ahead. I walked up to it and opened it to find my wooden sword. Finally! I've been waiting for this to be repaired for weeks! I strapped it to my back and went back outside. I walked up to the kids and Talo demanded a lesson in swordplay. As he went home to get his toy sword, I tested the sword out. Once he got back, the lesson began. First I performed my slice attack, both vertical and horizontal. Next, the stab; followed by the spin attack and the jump attack, the latter move breaking the bucket on my dummy.
"WHOA! Link that was awesome!" Talo said. "I kinda get it now…err… maybe not... so if one of those monkeys shows up.." he was cut off by one of the cheesiest appearances a monkey could ever make. Right as he mentioned a monkey, a female monkey appeared behind us.
"Oh!" cried Beth. Talo looked behind me to see the monkey scamper away.
"C'mere you!" cried Talo as he chased after the monkey, Malo and Beth following boy, I thought to myself. Colin watched as I mounted Epona. "Stay in the village and tell your dad I went after them!" I called out before launching Epona in pursuit if the kids.
-Ordon Spring-
I found Beth sitting by the spring. She pointed towards the woods, telling me she couldn't keep up with Talo and Malo. I told her to go home and watched as she ran back to Ordon before moving on. Just a bit farther, at the gate to the bridge connecting Ordon to Faron was Malo. He refused to go farther, and I also sent him home. I moved on into Faron woods, knowing this was going to be a LONG search.
-Faron Woods-
I galloped past the spring, to find the gates to the cavern opened. Oh no, nonono... Where was my luck when I needed it? Knowing my job just got complicated, I headed to Coro, the Oil seller and got a free lantern from him. Goddesses knew I needed one, what with how dark that cavern is. Especially if the torches are off. I headed into the cavern, when I nearly tripped on an object. Shedding light on it, I realized it was Talo's wooden play sword. Dammit... if he got captured by a boklobin... I rushed into the cave and lit every torch I came across and killed every monster I found.
"He's not here..." I muttered. Great... this is more complicated than I thought. Faron Woods is a big place... I exited the cavern and raced towards the cavern where I knew the key to the Temple path was. I lit the two torches, and opened the chest to find the key still there. I took it and headed for the Temple path gate. It was guarded by two boklobins, both whom I easily dispatched before unlocking the gate, fighting one more boklobin and continuing my search for Talo.
I ran to the clearing, where 2 more boklobins were waiting for me, and took them down without hesitation. Continuing on, I saw a boklobin terrorizing a shop and quickly defeated it. The owner, a bird named Trill thanked me and invited me to buy at his shop. I obliged, buying a jar of Red Potion, and moved on. Looking towards the entrance to what was called the Forest Temple, I saw a cage guarded by two boklobins. My mind locked on the cage. That must be where they've got Talo! I charged up the path and engaged the boklobins.
I dodged a stab and followed up in a spin attack, which caught both of them off guard. I quickly finished off the one to my left, and took down the remaining boklobin. After catching my breath, I looked to the cage to find Talo, a look of terror on his face, and behind him, the monkey he was chasing. I hacked at the bars of the cage with my sword, being careful not to hurt Talo or the monkey. Eventually the cage broke, and Talo and the monkey jumped with joy and relief. We headed back after making sure he wasn't harmed; physically, or through poison.
Once we got to the entrance to the cavern, near Faron Spring, Talo said what I knew he would say.
"Um... Link? Thanks for saving me. Without you, me and the monkey probably would've gotten eaten. She's actually a nice gal, that monkey. She tried to protect me, so we got captured together. But Link... please don't tell my dad what happened. He's always telling us not to go into the Forest 'cause its dangerous. So, please, please don't tell! You have to promise!" he begged before running back to Ordon. Poor kid, he's gonna be in for it when Jaggle finds out. This is something not even I could hide if I wanted to. I was brought from my thoughts as I heard footsteps. Rusl approached me.
"Link! I came as soon as I heard what happened. I apologize. Such a task should not fall to you. At any rate, the matter is settled. Tomorrow you will depart for Hyrule. It will be a great experience for you. Who knows? You may even get to meet Princess Zelda eh? Ha ha ha!" he chuckled before patting me on the back and leading the way home.
The two returned home and Link slept comfortably for the last time, for the next day, his life would change forever.
The Twilight Realm, After the late King Keiran's burial
(Midna's POV)
I wandered the palace after Father's burial. He was laid to rest next to Mother, where he always wanted to be. Maybe that's why he was so distant after she died... I mused internally. My mind was in a million places. Let's see... I just received my Father's power and the powers of all the rulers before me, many of the guards had gone on excused leave, at the same time, and Zant hasn't been seen since my Father nominated me for the throne.
The servants and guards left me alone for the most part, and I didn't mind that at all. I welcomed the solitude. At least they acknowledged that I need time, any other time and I would've been surrounded by people trying to console me... count the blessings, Midna, count the blessings...
I reached the Palace Battlements to find that it was strangely empty. Hmm... you'd think all the guards would be hanging around out here... I don't like this... I don't like this one bit. I stopped and leaned on the railing, admiring the Twilit sky. I was so lost in it's beauty, I didn't hear the approaching footsteps behind me.
"Aren't those clouds just beautiful today?" I jumped and turned around to see Zant, clad in a strange mask. He slowly made his way toward me, and I could feel a menacing aura about him. The same aura of that foul power I felt the day Father died. I backed up, not appreciating his sudden interest in me.
"Haven't you heard of personal space? What do you want? The burial has been over for hours already." My voice wavered slightly. Zant was silent and ever approaching.
"What the hell's wrong with you?! Leave me alone!" I cried, sensing that foul power intensify. Zant chuckled, I could picture that gleam in his eyes, the menacing smile. I remembered the missing guards, and it all fell into place. Zant was overthrowing me.
"If you think you're gonna take the throne from me, you're sorely mistaken, Zant. I have my ancestors' power." I warned. He only came closer, and laughed harder.
"You honestly believe you can stop me? Very well, Princess. Stop this!" I prepared a defense, but with an unknown power, he broke it, and with a flick of his wrist, I was on the ground. But something felt different. Something was different. I opened my eyes and tried to stand, only to fall down again. I looked at my tiny... wait...TINY?! I looked at my body to find I was short, small, and hideous!
Nonononono! NO! This can't be happening... How can this be real?!
"How mighty are you now, Princess? Where is all your power now? Your people are mine, your kingdom is mine. The Twilight is MINE! The way it should be! As my God willed it to be. You, however, are nothing. NOTHING! Therefore, I, Zant, am the next King of Twilight!" I couldn't stand it anymore. I failed my people, my parents. So I warped myself out of the palace and ran, as fast as my tiny legs could carry me, until I could run no more. I collapsed at the foot of a hill, and watched as Zant converted my people into monsters and marched them through the gateway between the Light realm and out realm, through the Mirror of Twilight.
I felt a spark of power ignite inside of me and I pulled out an object I had absent-mindedly taken from the Treasury. It was a stone helmet. As it got larger I realized what it was. A Fused shadow piece. And that's when I remembered the Legends of my people. The story of our Founder-Kings and the Fused Shadows. The Legend of the Divine Beast. Supposedly the other three fused shadow pieces were in the land of Hyrule in the Realm of Light. The Chosen Hero would appear as a Blue-Eyed Wolf. The pieces of my plan fell into place and I smiled viciously. I will regain my beauty, my power, my throne. And Zant, you will die for what you have done. I swear it.
A/N: Well, that was one LONG chapter and it took a LONG time to get it up. Sorry about that! Hopefully I'll have the next one up soon. Ah, yes! The action begins!
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